Mr Disney (Wayne) has always wanted to visit Kennedy Space Center. I, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. Now don't get me wrong - I'm not completely oblivious to space. Growing up I have watched a few of the shuttle launches on television, including the sad one, and we have visited a handful of space exhibits over the years, including the National Space Centre in Leicester. The thought of going into space does fascinate me and I have watched a few films on space and space travel — factual as well as fictional. But at heart I am a Disney girl, and I simply wasn't sure whether Kennedy Space Center would be my kind of thing.
Dream of Space
We had booked Gear Fusion to travel to Kennedy, and headed off with Todd, the owner of GearFusion just after 8am. As we headed towards the Space Coast, eyes peeled for crocodiles along the way — but sadly none were to be seen 😢 We arrived just after opening, which as it turned out was one of the best decisions we made. By the end of the day, having barely scratched the surface of everything on offer, I needn't have worried. Kennedy Space Center had well and truly won me over.
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS
Having checked the map we headed straight to Space Shuttle Atlantis first — and what a decision that turned out to be.
Once inside we found ourselves in the preshow theatre where they showed footage covering the story of the shuttle programme. Slowly and beautifully they built up the atmosphere, drawing you deeper into the history and emotion of the shuttle era, all building towards the introduction of Atlantis herself.
I won't say anything more than my jaw genuinely dropped. It is one of those rare attraction experiences that lives up to every expectation and then surpasses them. Whatever you think you know going in, nothing quite prepares you for it. Go in as blind as we did — you won't regret it.
Once past the reveal, the exhibit opens up beautifully. You get incredibly close to Atlantis —
almost close enough to touch. Dotted throughout are interactive pods packed with switches and buttons, which Mr Disney absolutely loved, as well as detailed features covering the history of Atlantis and her many missions. It is the kind of exhibit you could genuinely lose yourself in for hours.
THE BUS TOUR
When we finally dragged ourselves away from Atlantis, we grabbed a well earned drink before heading to the bus tour and our next adventure — the Saturn V exhibit.
We arrived at the bus tour just in time to catch the next departure — another reminder that arriving early really does pay off.
As we headed out across the Kennedy Space Center grounds, a video guide walked us through what we were seeing along the way. Rolling past the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building — one of the largest buildings in the world — you simply cannot comprehend the scale of it until you are right beside it. In the distance the launch pads were visible, a reminder that this is very much a working, active spaceport.
One word of advice — the extended bus tour which goes to additional sites sold out before we could book it. If that is something you want to do, book it in advance online. Don't make the same mistake we did! It is something we are already planning to come back and do on a future visit.
SATURN V
Before we even laid eyes on the Saturn V itself, we were treated to something quite special. We took our seats in one of the original control rooms where, on screen there were presentations from former astronauts and mission control staff, as we experienced the build up and countdown to a launch. The atmosphere they created was electric — sitting in that room, surrounded by the original equipment, it felt for a moment like we had been transported back to the golden age of space exploration.
And then we saw it.
There are no words that truly do it justice. The Saturn V rocket is laid out horizontally in sections, and you can walk the entire length underneath it.
Mr Disney's reaction said it all — an awestruck "oh my God, that's huge." He wasn't wrong.
I'll be honest — I have always had my doubts about the moon landings. But standing there, up close and personal with the Saturn V, seeing the sheer scale and complexity of what they built, those doubts began to quietly fade away. It is just one of those moments where you think — actually, yes. They really did do this.
The exhibits surrounding it are equally impressive. There is a lunar landing craft on display, and an exhibit where you can actually touch a piece of the moon. A genuine fragment of another world, right there beneath your fingertips. It is one of those quietly extraordinary moments that you don't forget.
We ended up spending a good couple of hours here, including a stop for lunch. Before heading back we ventured outside where a grandstand overlooks the horizon towards Launch Complexes 39A and 39B — the very same pads that launched the Saturn V all those years ago and where the newest generation of launches are happening today. Standing there looking across at those pads, the history and the future of space exploration felt very much alive. Inside there was also a fascinating exhibit introducing NASA's next great chapter — the Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the moon. After everything we had just seen, it felt like anything was possible.
THE REST OF THE DAY
Before leaving the Saturn V exhibit we made a quick stop at the gift shop, picking up the photos that had been taken of us before we entered — a lovely memento of the day and well worth grabbing.
We then boarded the bus back to the main complex, passing the Vehicle Assembly Building once more. Even second time around it doesn't get any less impressive. The return journey was guided, adding a little extra context to what we were seeing.
Back at the main complex we headed into the large gift shop — dangerous territory for any space fan, as Mr Disney would confirm. Plenty of NASA merchandise, souvenirs and keepsakes to tempt you.
We ended the day at what turned out to be one of the most poignant stops of the entire visit — the In Memoriam display, a tribute to the astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of space exploration, including the crews of the two shuttle disasters. It is quietly and beautifully done, and genuinely emotional. It felt like a fitting and respectful way to close a day that had taken us on such an incredible journey through the history of human space exploration.
Time had simply flown by, and before we knew it, it was time to meet back up with Todd and head back to Walt Disney World. The day had passed in a blur of wonder and we could hardly believe how quickly it had gone.
And yet there is still so much we didn't get to see or do properly — including that extended bus tour that sold out on us. Kennedy Space Center hasn't seen the last of us.
My Honest verdict
If you had told me at the start of the day that Kennedy Space Center would become one of my favourite experiences in Florida, I would not have believed you. As a self-confessed Disney parks girl, this was very much a trip I was doing for Mr Disney rather than myself. I went in with an open mind and low expectations.
How wrong I was.
There is so much more to see and do here than I ever anticipated. It is fascinating, moving, awe inspiring and surprisingly fun all at once. From the jaw dropping reveal of Atlantis to standing beneath the mighty Saturn V, from touching a piece of the moon to paying respects at the In Memoriam display — every part of the day left its mark.
Kennedy Space Center is not just for space fans. It is for anyone who is curious about human achievement, history and the incredible things we are capable of when we dare to dream big. Go with an open mind and it will reward you beyond measure.
We are already looking forward to going back — there is still so much to explore, that extended bus tour to do properly, and who knows — maybe, just maybe, we will finally get to witness a launch. Watch this space!
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For our full video vlog of the day, head over to our YouTube channel at the link below — we'd love for you to come along for the ride!
